Refillable regenerator



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Patented May 27, 1924.

. UNITED STATES .101m I.. BoAnnMAN, or BUTTE, MONTANA. i

REFILLABLE REGENERATOR. I

Application med :une 1s, 1921. smal No. 478,618.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. BOABDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silver Bow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reiillable Regenerators, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to rel'illable regenerators or containers for holding material which will absorb CO2 and particularly to refillable regenerators for use with self con.- tained oxygen breathing apparatus.

An object ofthe invention is to provide a regenerator which will permit the ready removal of the absorbent material. A further object is to provide a regenerator which exposes a large surface to the air passing therethrough and which offers but little resistance to the passage of the air. A further object is to provide a regenerator which eliminates all danger of short circuits, i. e., passage of air through the regenerator without contacting with the absorbent material.

One particular embodiment of my invention which is particularly adapted for use with the Paul7 type of breathing apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whioh- Figure 1 is a perspective viewA of the regenerator; l

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the regenerator, taken on line 2 2 rof Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionl taken on a. plane passing through the upper part of the container, as indicated by line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the'partitions used in the regenerator.

The regenerator consists of a 'casing or canister which is formed of suitable nonrusting sheet metal and comprises side walls 1, 1, end walls 2, 2, top 3 and bottom 4.

The terms side and end walls, vtop and bottom are used merely for convenience of description as the regenerator when in use may occupy other positions than that illustrated in Fig. 1. f

The canister is divided by means of foraminous partitions 5 into air compartments 6, 6 and an absorbent material compartment 7. Considering the regenerator arranged as shown in thedrawings, these partitions and the compartments formed therecanister.

by are vertically arranged and the` term Vertical as used in the specification and claims is to be construed. as defining the location of these or other elements when the regenerator is positioned as shown in the drawings. L v

To prevent `short circuiting of thelair when the canister is lying on its side and the compartment 7 is not completely filled with absorbent material, imperforate baiiles 8, 8 are provided at the sides of the partif tions 5. If desired the balles may lextend around the entire periphery of partitions 5 but I ind that such a construction is seldom necessary.

One corner of partition 5 which forms a wall of compartment 6 is'cut away as at 5 and through the opening thus formed the compartment communicates with a laterally extending passage 9 which overlies a portion of chamber 7. The upper wall of pasn sage 9 is formed by thetop .3 and the other walls are formed by a delector plate 10 which is attached to the casing and to the partition. 4At the opposite side ofthe casing a similar passage 9 communicates with .chamber 6 and is formed by deilector plate -10 and top 3.

The top 3 is provided 'with a illingfopenmg which communicates with chamber 7 and which is closed by filling plug 12 andy a leather orother suitable washer 13. Top

V3 is also provided with openings'communieating with passages l9 and 9 respectively, and .these openings are provided with suitable. connectionsl 14, 14 yrespectively, to which the inhalation and exhalation tubes may be attached. The .direction in which exhaled air passes through the container. is immaterial andj therefore the inhalation tube may be attached ateither 14 or 14.

Braces 15 ar'e'located between the screen partitions 5 and the adjacent wall; 1 of the Dependent upon convenience in assembling, braces 15 may be attached either to the partition 5 or to-the wall 1, and both arrangements are illustrated in Fig. 4.

The canister body may be formed in any suitable way according to known methods of manufacture of sheet metal cans or vessels. 'Ihe various elements are formed from brass or other non-rusting material and Mall joints between the elements of the device are soldered t or otherwise hermetically sealed. l

In use the regeneration material or CO,

absorbent is filled into compartment 7 until the compartment is Substantially full. Filling plug 12 is then applied to form an airtight closure. The canister is placed in the apparatus with either connection '14; or 14 uppermost and the inhalation andeXhalation tubes are connected in the proper manner. The exhaled breath of the wearer en# ters through one connection, as 14 and passes throughthe passage 9 into compartment 6. From compartment 6 the air travels through the foraminous partition 5, through the absorbent material and the other partition into compartment 6. From thence the re-y generated air passes through passage 9 and connection 14 to the inhalation tube of the apparatus. l Y

The device is simple in construction, etiicient `in the absorption of CO2, comparatively safe in operation and is easily emptied and recharged.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment above described but that various changes in the elements, vtheir relative size, shape and location Amay be made within the `scope of my invention.

l. In a retillable regenerator, a casing, partitions spaced from and substantially parallel to the opposite walls of said casing and forming therewith air compartments and an intermediate compartment for holding regenerating material, each of said partitions comprising a foraminous sectiony and imperforate batiie sections.

2. A reiillable regenerator 'comprising a casing, a pair lot toraminous' partitions which with .the opposite walls of said casing divide said chamber into two air comypartments and an intermediate material holding compartment, an opening in the wall of said casing through which materiai may be introduced into said intermediate compartment, and a pair of openings in the wall of said casing, each ot said openings communicating with one ot said air cornpartmenfts '3. A regenerator comprising-a casing provided with air inlet and outlet openings, a pair of foraminous partitions extending across the path of the air current through said casing and dividing said `casing into -two air chambers and a chamber for holding regenerating material, and a pair of passages extending along one wall ot said casing,'each ot 'said passages establishing communication between one of said casing openings and one o'tsaid air chambers.

4. A retillable regenerator `comprising a casing, vertical foraminous partitions cooperating with the side walls ot the casing to form air chambers and a chamber for holding regenerative material, passages through said `partitions and extending from the respective air chambers along `vthe top of the casing, openings in the top of said casing communicating with the respective passages and provided with means for attachinginhalation and exhalation tubes, an opening in the top communicating with the material holding chamber and a closure for said last mentioned opening.

5. A regenerator comprising a casing, ver.- t-ical partitions dividing said casing into two air compartments and an intermediate .compartment for holding regenerative material, plates connected to said partitions and cooperating with the top ot rthecasing to form passages communicating respectively with the twoA air compartments, openings in the top of the casing and communicating respectively with the three compartments, means for attaching inhalation and exhalation tubes to the openings leading to said air compartments and a closure for the opening into said intermediate `compartment.

6. A regenerator comprising a casing, vertical foraminous partitions adj acent the side walls of said casing,fbraces between said partitions and the adjacent casing wall and imperforate baffles at the periphery of said foraminous partitions.

7. A regenerator comprising a casing,

Vvertical foraminous partitions cooperating with the side walls of said casing to torni air compartments adjacent said side walls and an intermediate lcompartment for holding regenerative material, an opening in the top of said casing and communicating with said material holding compartment, `a closure for said opening, means on the top of said casing for attaching inhalation and exhalation tubes and passages leading from said `meansto the respective air compartments.l

8. A retillable regeneratorl comprising a casing, a pair oit ioraminous partitions dividing said casing -into air compartments and an intermediate compartment or'holding regenerating material, outlets. arranged in one wall of said casing and in alignment with said material holding compartment, one of said outlets opening directly into said material holding compartment. a pair of passages extending 'along said wall and across said material holding compartment,

one of said passages establishing communication between one ot' sald outlets and one of said air compartments and the othero said passages establishing communication` JoHN L. BOARDMAN. 

